Paul O'Grady was left 'obsessed' with one of the residents at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home before his death as he returned to film what will now be his last TV series following his passing at the end of last month. It was announced that the comedian and TV star had died 'unexpectedly' on March 28 at the age of 67.
Just months before his death O'Grady, who rose to fame on the nightclub circuit as the acerbic, platinum wig-wearing Lily Savage, visited the charity for the upcoming series of his much-loved ITV show Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
ITV is changing its schedule to air a tribute to the late broadcaster – who presented a string of programmes across the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, including Blankety Blank, The Big Breakfast, Blind Date and The Paul O’Grady Show – called For The Love Of Paul O’Grady on Sunday (April 9).
The new series of For The Love Of Dogs will then begin on April 13. It comes after ITV reshowed Paul O’Grady’s For The Love of Dogs: A Royal Special last Wednesday, which featured an appearance from the Queen Consort, after his husband Andre Portasio confirmed his tragic death in a statement.
In the interview for the show, O’Grady was asked how he felt returning to the animal rescue centre for another season, and said: “It’s always such a joy to be back at Battersea. It really is my second home and I’m part of the furniture now. There are some smashing dogs in the new series, they really are lovely. But some sad stories as well and of course there is a dog that I fall in love with too. There always is.
"When we first made this programme, I certainly didn’t expect to stay this long but here I am, 12 years later. It’s such a simple little show really. No special effects, no shiny floor. Just the dogs, the incredible people who work with the dogs, and me. But the reaction it still gets is really lovely."
And it was also revealed that O'Grady, who was no stranger to leaving Battersea without a new four-legged companion, had been "obsessed" with a Newfoundland called Peggy, who he said was the "size of a donkey" and "so loving”".
And he had to talk himself out of taking her home. He added: "I thought, ‘I can’t bring her back, I don’t know what (my dogs) would say’. Especially Eddie, my Chihuahua – he’d go for him. Eddie’s got no idea of his own size, he’d be straight in for a fight, even though we’ve got bigger rats than Eddie."
During the first series of the show, O’Grady rehomed Chihuahua-Jack Russell cross puppy Eddie at his Kent farmhouse. This addition was followed by Boycie, a shih-tzu, in 2014, Conchita, a Maltese, in 2015, Arfur, a mongrel puppy, in 2017, Nancy, another mongrel puppy, in 2020, and Sausage, a wire-haired dachshund, in 2021.
Following his death, Battersea set up a fund dedicated to the late presenter, who became an ambassador for Battersea in 2012, which has seen more than £200,000 donated to the charity so far.
O’Grady also said: "It’s like I’ve always said, the series is a Cinderella story. This poor dog comes in, often in an appalling state, unloved, and then the staff come in with their patience and kindness and medication and experience and they transform the dog and it goes off to a nice home.
"Sadly not every dog can have a happy ending but to make this programme is a privilege, even when it means rolling around on the floor of the kennels with the dogs all day."
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs returns on Thursday April 13 at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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